1. Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
Located on Main Street, the Wadsworth Atheneum is an art museum founded in 1842 and opened in 1844, making it one of the oldest art museums in the U.S. It has an extensive collection of American Impressionist paintings, works by contemporary artists, French Impressionist paintings, landscapes by members of the Hudson River School, modernist art works, and more. The museum also features American decorative arts and furniture and is one of the best things to do in Hartford, Connecticut. With 196,000 square feet, the Wadsworth Atheneum is the largest art museum in Connecticut and is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It also offers many educational programs and hosts special events like film screenings. 600 Main Street, Hartford, CT, 860-278-2670
2. Elizabeth Park
Elizabeth Park is a city park located on Asylum Avenue. Covering an area of 102 acres, the site was owned by Charles M. Pond, who gave the land to the City of Hartford in 1894 and asked them to name the park after his wife, Elizabeth Pond. One of the most famous parts of the park is the Rose Garden. It is the oldest municipal rose garden in the U.S. and is made up of 15,000 rose bushes representing 800 varieties. If you are wondering what to do in Hartford CT with kids, this is a great place to visit. In addition to the rose garden, the park contains greenhouses, lawns, pathways, a pond, and tennis courts. 1561 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford, Connecticut, 860-231-9443
3. Connecticut State Capitol
The Connecticut State Capitol is the home of the Connecticut State Senate, the House of Representatives, the Connecticut General Assembly, and the office of the Governor of the State of Connecticut. The current capitol, constructed with marble and granite and opened in 1871, was designed in the Eastlake Movement style and has been designated as a U.S. National Historic Landmark. On the main floor there are collections of historic artifacts, many of which are related to the Civil War. There are self-guided tours as well as free one-hour guided tours, which are conducted from Monday to Friday. School tours as well as private group tours are also available. 210 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT, 860-240-0222
4. Connecticut Science Center
Located on Columbus Boulevard along the Connecticut River in Hartford, the Connecticut Science Center is a nine-story science museum and theater that opened in 2009. The center contains 40,000 square feet of interactive exhibits in its 154,000 square foot facility. The Connecticut Science Center is one of the top Hartford attractions for families. The galleries include audio, tactile, and visual exhibits, among others. The Exploring Space gallery allows visitors to see a moon rock and moon craters, or go on a Venture to a Black Hole, while the River of Life teaches guests about the importance of the Connecticut River. The Picture of Health helps to show the differences between good and bad health habits. Finally, the Sight and Sound Experience is a combination of art, music, and science. 250 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, Connecticut, 860-724-3623
What to do if you are traveling with kids:
5. The Mark Twain House & Museum
Located on Farmington Avenue, the Mark Twain House & Museum is where Samuel Longhorne Clemens lived and worked between 1874 and 1891. Before living in this house, Clemens, known as Mark Twain, lived in several places including Hannibal, Missouri. However, it was in this house in Hartford where he wrote his most famous books, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, among other well-known works. Built in the Victorian Gothic style between 1873 and 1874, the house has 19 rooms. Opened in 2003, the museum features permanent and rotating exhibits that give visitors the chance to learn more about the author and his life. 351 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut, 860-247-0998
6. Bushnell Park
The oldest publicly funded park in the U.S., Bushnell Park was envisioned by Reverend Horace Bushnell in the mid-19th century in order to give the people of Hartford a green open space, a concept that no other city in the U.S. had yet completed. With over 50 acres, the park features paths and groups of trees, a pond, a performance pavilion, a carousel, and the Corning Fountain. Memorials include the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch, which is dedicated to those who fought during the American Civil War, as well as the Horace Wells Monument. Listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, the park hosts concerts, festivals, and other events.
Activities and Attractions for Couples and Singles:
7. The Bushnell Performing Arts Center
The Bushnell Performing Arts Center, located on Capitol Avenue, is a performing arts venue formerly known as the Bushnell Memorial Hall. Named after Horace Bushnell, a highly respected 19th century intellectual, and envisioned by his daughter Dotha Bushnell Hillyer, the center was constructed between 1929 and 1930 during the Great Depression as a memorial to her father. The center consists of several theaters, including the original Mortensen Hall and the Maxwell M. and Ruth R. Belding Theater. In addition to presenting performances including those by the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, the center has educational programs and community outreach programs such as Passport to the Arts and iQuilt. If you are looking for romantic date night ideas in Hartford CT, watch a performance at the Bushnell Performing Arts Center. 166 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut, 860-987-6000
8. Trumbull Kitchen
Trumbull Kitchen, with its modern, cool industrial touches, is a luxurious and upscale restaurant with walls covered in leather and soft custom-made lighting. It is a great place for a business lunch or an intimate dinner for two. Executive Chef Chris Torla plays with fresh farm-to-table ingredients he gets from local farms and food producers to create unique cosmopolitan comfort food that has no ethnic boundaries. The mix of flavors in both his tapas and large plates is outstanding, and the presentation is almost Zen-like. Trumbull Kitchen also has constantly changing craft beers on tap and an extensive wine list. 150 Trumbull Street, Hartford, CT, Phone: 860-493-7412
9. Museum of Connecticut History
The Museum of Connecticut History is located in the meticulously restored and historic 1910 building that houses the State Library and Supreme Court. Its focus is on the state’s governmental, industrial, and military history, which it showcases through a range of permanent and temporary exhibits. The exhibits follow the State’s growth and development and the part it played in the development of the United States. The visit to the museum starts at Memorial Hall with a display of the portraits of former Connecticut Governors. The Hall also contains display boxes with important historical documents such as the State's original Royal Charter from 1662. Other important collections are the Connecticut Collection, which contains flags, portraits, weapons, uniforms, and many other historic objects, The Colt Firearms Collection, Mitchelson Coin Collection, and many others. Admission is free. 231 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut, 860-757-6535
10. Connecticut Historical Society
Visiting the Connecticut Historical Society museum, library, and the Edgar F. Waterman Research Center is a great way to learn more about Connecticut and its history, people, and culture. The Society, established in 1825, is located in a lovely 1928 Colonial Revival building that was formerly a luxury home. It now contains over 4 million diverse items in the areas of textiles, furniture, clothing, manuscripts, diaries, prints, photos, tavern signs, children’s books, and various tools. There are several permanent exhibitions on display, and the most important one is a comprehensive overview of more than 400 years of the history of Connecticut. The exhibition displays over 500 historic images, objects, and documents that range from the times of the original inhabitants, the Quinnetukut, to contemporary times. One Elizabeth Street, Hartford, Connecticut, 860-236-5621
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